Replies to This Discussion

I was going to re-queen one of my hives last week, but someone suggested that I wait until spring since it was so late in the year. My reasoning had more to do with an under-performing queen than aggressiveness. The hive is very docile, but hasn't flourished like my other hives. In your case it might be valid to do it now, but I'd check with the pros.

I would re-queen now because it will take at least 2 months for the workers to be replaced with the new queen's genetics. If you wait until Spring, after the brood has grown substantial in quantity, you will have exactly what you are trying to avoid; a large number of hyper-defensive bees. I would get a locally grown queen that is adapted to south Florida conditions. Now is the "off season" for queens, so it will be harder to find. Please post who you get the queen from and how she performs.